A new wolf in the Soudal-Quick Step pack is Mikel Landa. The 34-year-old Basque should become a key player for Remco Evenepoel. “In the Tour I want to support Remco until the end, in the mountain stages”, Landa defines his gregarious role.
Admiration of Captain Remco Evenepoel
In conversation with the Belgian channel Sporza, Landa revealed some details of his contact with the team, which ended up transferring him from Bahrain Victorious to Wolfpack (as Soudal Quick-Step defines itself).
“Although I wasn’t convinced after the first phone call,” admits Landa. “After the second phone call, I was.”
“Remco said he admired me and greatly valued my experience. I was offered a role that motivated me to join this team.”
Role in the new team
“Firstly, I will help the team as much as possible. Sometimes I will be in the service of Remco, sometimes in the service of someone else.”
“Plus, I can run on my own in certain races. In the Vuelta, for example, I will have the opportunity to be captain, I continue to dream of winning a Grand Tour. This is becoming increasingly difficult for me, as the years pass and new rivals emerge.”
“But in recent years I have been close to the final podium. So why wouldn’t final victory already be possible?”
Remco Evenepoel’s Gregarious
Mikel Landa details his role as Remco Evenepoel’s main gregarious person. “I want to support Remco until the end of the mountain stages. That’s my job as a climber.”
“Can Remco win the Tour? I don’t think this is impossible. But let’s not pressure him yet. Remco is participating in the Tour for the first time. There are rivals (Pogacar and Vingegaard) who have won the Tour twice each. We’ll try to stay as close to them as possible and see where that can take us.”
Will the Soudal Quick-Step team in the Tour de France around Evenepoel be strong enough? “Maybe not as strong as Visma-Lease a Bike or UAE Team Emirates”, concludes Mikel Landa.
